The Peugeot 508 which goes on sale in the UK later this month, just a month and a half after the launch in mainland Europe, is already being hailed as a success with orders exceeding sales objectives by 20%. Now the Peugeot 508, which has also been developed for the Chinese market, will be receiving its public launch at the Auto Shanghai 2011.

The Peugeot 508 joins a host of other new Peugeot models that have recently been launched onto the Chinese market. Peugeot 207 (hatchback and sedan), 207 CC, 308 CC, 308 SW, 408, 3008, and very soon the Peugeot RCZ.

Peugeot’s sales objective in China for 2011 is to sell 200,000 vehicles.

Also in China next week, Peugeot will unveil a concept car which has been totally designed and developed by Peugeot’s Chinese Tech Centre in Shanghai.

Peugeot SXC Concept Car
Athletic, powerful, elegant, the “SXC” is a concept car from the Peugeot Style Studios of the China Tech Centre in Shanghai that explores the world of an exclusive and modern Crossover vehicle. With the SXC, Peugeot reasserts its international ambitions, refining its ability to adapt to the specific expectations of each market, while expressing in all areas its vision for the future and its skill in combining pursuit of excellence and emotion.

In 2010, Peugeot unveiled a new evolutionary design style with various concept cars: the SR1 roadster, the BB1 city car – 2.50 m long yet for 4 people, the EX1 two-seater roadster – 100% electric, which beat homologated acceleration records in France and in China and the HR1 – exclusive, innovative and a hyper-connected city car. At Auto Shanghai 2011, the Marque’s stylists express themselves in another category, which is becoming increasingly popular in the Chinese market, that of the Crossover. With the SXC (Shanghai Cross Concept) this theme is revisited.

This concept car combines certain characteristics from the world of the SUV – strength, high driving position, protection, with a modern styling, elegant and refined, much closer to the upmarket world of the saloon than the SUV.

A strong style, both bold and refined
The SXC is a vehicle with a strong, asserted character, its style expressing strength and power, without being pretentious, through its lines which are simple and refined, elegant and fluid, and subtly emphasise the athletic, even muscular, character of the vehicle. Each detail is precisely sculpted on a body of impressive size – with a length of 4.870 m, a height of 1.610 m and a width of 2.035 m.

At the front, the SXC bears the ‘new stylistic design codes’ of Peugeot. The theme of the unique “floating” grille, which appears to detach itself from the bodywork, fits harmoniously with its stature. The feline headlamps give it a piercing gaze echoing the Marque’s emblem, the lion, proudly affixed on the front of the bonnet. This gaze is emphasised further by a luminous LED “signature” recognisable both by day and night. This visual signature is also present in the rear lamps, the “boomerang” shape of which matches the rear styling and has been designed with particular care. Other “High Tech” detailing has been included such as the tapered mirrors housing the rear view cameras.

The roof bars have a very original design, the trim around the side windows and numerous other components are made of brushed aluminium, a light material, smart and upmarket, which subtly enhances the exclusive nature of the vehicle.

Its large 22” diameter wheels, the design of which suggests refinement and strength, also contribute to the general balance of the vehicle. Finally, the very protective style of the vehicle, its generous size, its two-part panoramic roof, its accessibility through reverse-hinged doors, promise a particularly vast passenger compartment.

Driving enjoyment
One of Peugeot’s priorities is to continue its environmental leadership in the years to come. This concept car incorporates the HYbrid4 technology: with an internal combustion engine at the front (which drives the front wheels) and an electric motor at the rear (driving the rear wheels), this technology permits all wheel drive when the engine and electric motor are operating at the same time, benefiting safety and grip in extreme conditions. It also permits driving, at low speeds, in “zero emissions” mode with the electric motor only.

Under the bonnet, the internal combustion engine is a 1.6 litre THP petrol engine delivering 218 bhp. It continues the downsizing strategy of the PSA Group which uses the most advanced technology to manufacture small capacity engines combining a high level of performance and environmental efficiency. Coupled with a 95 bhp electric motor, the maximum potential power output is 313 bhp with a combined fuel consumption of 48.7 mpg and CO2 emissions of 143 g/km.

The efficiency of this drive train, coupled with the acknowledged expertise of the Marque in terms of road holding, allows the SXC Concept Car to combine the emotion of real driving enjoyment with the pursuit of a high level of environmental efficiency… promising its driver a unique driving experience.